Bangkok Vs Chiang Mai | Everything you need to know
Bangkok vs Chiang Mai is a tough choice for travellers seeking an authentic Thai experience. Thailand is so far one of our favourite countries around South East Asia; we’ve been four times and still planning to come back every time, over and over. We spent incredible months travelling around Thailand, discovering the rich culture, ancient temples and delicious food.
Bangkok and Chiang Mai are for sure among our favourite destinations in Thailand, and we cannot recommend them enough. Well, these come with some differences and are not suitable for every holiday in Thailand.
In this article, you will find everything you need to know before visiting Bangkok and Chiang Mai. A detailed guide of Bangkok vs Chiang Mai highlighting the best time to visit, where to stay, what to do and all helpful information to help you plan your trip to Chaing Mai and Bangkok.
Which is better, Bangkok or Chiang Mai?
It’s impossible to choose between Bangkok and Chiang Mai and very difficult to say which is better. Bangkok is the capital city, developed with vibrant nightlife and impressive landmarks. It’s chaotic, but still with a lot of amazing things to do. If you love big cities, Bangkok is definitely the right choice. We stayed there for several days, discovering how picturesque and unexpected the city could be. Check out our guide to Bangkok Instagram Spots.
Some of our friends have lived in Bangkok for several years and love it. We loved it as well. However, it was too much for us in many ways. We were looking for a more peaceful and quiet environment but still with great nightlife.
In fact, Chiang Mai was perfect. The city offers a quieter and more relaxed atmosphere and, at the same time, has incredible night markets and good nightlife vibes. We can still remember our nights out at Zoe in Yellow with our friends. Chiang Mai is an excellent destination for outdoor activities, hikes, temple hopping and local countryside. We have highlighted the perfect Chiang Mai 3 days itinerary here.
Overall, Bangkok and Chiang Mai have a lot to offer; depending on your personal experiences and what you’re looking for, you can pick the right city. We loved Chiang Mai so much, and we haven’t met anyone who doesn’t love Chiang Mai!
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How to go from Bangkok to Chiang Mai
There are several ways to reach Chiang Mai from Bangkok: local buses, trains, and even flights.
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What Are the key differences between Chiang Mai and Bangkok?
| Bangkok | Chiang Mai | |
| Length of Stay | From 1 to 3 days | 3 Days or more |
| Best time to visit | November to February | November to early February |
| Things to do | Grand Palace Wat Pho and Wat Arun Floating Market Chao Phraya Riverboat King Power Mahanakhon | Doi Suthep Sticky Waterfall Cabaret Show Night markets Khuang Phra Chao Lanna |
Chiang Mai vs Bangkok: Food
Thai food is just amazing, from the famous Pad Thai to the typical Kao Soi in Chiang Mai; you have to taste everything. Chiang Mai and Northern Thailand are famous for their Khao Soi, a coconut curry noodle soup, a little spicy, but it’s the perfect alternative to Pad Thai. So far, the best Pad Thai we have ever had was in Bangkok; here is the location.
A local cafe that serves lunch as well, and believe us, it was the best one ever. During our time in Thailand, we tried many Pad Thai, but no one could beat it. If you’re spending even one day in Bangkok, make sure you check out this place.
Chiang Mai food is just another level. We found our local restaurant and have been eating there multiple times and tried different things from the menu. The restaurant is Grazie Thai Local Food, the best place to eat and super affordable.
Both Bangkok and Chiang Mai offer an excellent variety of local food. However, Chiang Mai is cheaper than Bangkok.
Bangkok vs Chiang Mai: Value for Money
If you’re following us on Instagram, you might have seen our reel about Chiang Mai and how much we spent in a month. During our entire trip in Thailand and across Southeast Asia, we tracked our expenses on a spreadsheet kindly created by Toti, the mastermind 🙂 In this way, we could track and see how much we spent in each location.
In 20 days in Chiang Mai, between all the activities and tours, we spent around £700 for both. The amount includes accommodation, meals, night out, scooter rentals, and additional expenses.
In Bangkok, for a total of 8 days, we spent £256 for both. This includes NY’s Eve night out with friends as well. Considering that we are a travel couple, Bangkok costs £32 per day for both of us, so £16 per day each. On the other hand, while exploring Chiang Mai, we spent £35 per day for a couple, so it worked out at £17.50 each.
Bangkok vs Chiang Mai: Things to Do
There are so many incredible things to do in Bangkok and Chiang Mai, from temple hopping to a local cooking class; both cities have a lot to offer. Below you will find some of the top things to do in each place.
Things to do in Bangkok
Things to do in Chiang Mai
Bangkok vs Chiang Mai: Weather
Bangkok and Chiang Mai have entirely different weather. Chiang Mai is way cooler than Bangkok, thanks to its strategic position. Being surrounded by mountains, you can feel 2-4 degrees cooler in Bangkok.
Weather in Bangkok
Bangkok has a tropical climate with high temperatures and humidity throughout the year. Temperature can go from 25 to 35 degrees during the cool seasons and reach up to 40 during the hot season. In fact, this year, Bangkok hit 42 degrees in April, and the government had to warn locals and tourists to stay indoors.
Weather in Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai’s weather is cooler than Bangkok’s; the average temperature is around 25-27 degrees during the cool season. Avoid travelling to Chiang Mai from July to early October, as it’s the rainy season.
Chiang Mai vs Bangkok: Travel Costs
Thailand is cheap, and you won’t spend a lot. If you want to compare the travel costs with London, public transports in Bangkok and Chiang Mai are pennies.
Bangkok has a metro which allows you to travel around the city more efficiently; however, if you’re staying in the old town and around the famous Khao San Road, you must use the bus or taxi. The average cost for the metro is between £0.70 and £2. The distance measures the cost; the further you go, the more you pay. However, it’s still cheap.
On the other hand, Chiang Mai doesn’t have any metro. To move around the city, you can use Songthaew, a red bus going in and out of the old town. The average price is 30 baht (£0.70); however, confirm the price before hopping on, as they will try to ask you for more money.
Bangkok vs Chiang Mai: Length of Stay
Can we say forever?! Jokes apart, we recommend spending between 1 to 3 days in Bangkok and at least 3 days in Chiang Mai. All our friends told us to spend only a few days in Bangkok, but we wanted to stay longer and visit the city with time. Now, we recommend spending at most 3 days in Bangkok. The city is wide, chaotic and in 3 days you will have enough time to visit everything.
Chiang Mai is the perfect place if you’re looking to stay longer. We originally planned only 10 days and ended up staying for a month. However, if you only have a limited time, we recommend between 3 and 5 days in Chiang Mai. If you have more days, you can plan a day trip to Chiang Rai and discover some of the best temples!
Chiang Mai vs Bangkok: Nightlife
You have heard of Bangkok’s incredible nightlife; in fact, the famous movie Hangover was filmed in some clubs and bars in Bangkok. Of course, this means that Bangkok’s nightlife is excellent. From the famous Khao San Road and its backpacker bars to the stunning rooftop bars with amazing views of the city, Bangkok has it all. In addition, you can find so many nightclubs and live music venues perfect for enjoying a lively atmosphere.
Chiang Mai might have a different reputation than Bangkok, but you can still have great fun. Head to Zoe in Yellow and have the best time. Locals and tourists love hanging out in Zoe in Yellow and in its surroundings bars with their friends. We had the best nightlife while in Chiang Mai. Our friends flew from Bali and London, and we all ended up in Zoe in Yellow, partying and having the best fun!
Bangkok vs Chiang Mai: Day Trips
Both Bangkok and Chiang Mai offer incredible day trip opportunities. From National parks to UNESCO sites, you can plan easy day trips from Bangkok and Chiang Mai. Check out our entire series about Pai Things to do for some ideas on day trips from Chiang Mai.
Day trip from Chiang Mai
From Chiang Mai, you have more flexibility to plan a day trip; here are some ideas:
- Chiang Rai
- Doi Suthep
- Huay Tung Tao Lake
- Doi Inthanon National Park
- Elephant Nature Park
- Chiang Dao Cave
- Pai
Best day Trip from Bangkok
- Ayutthaya
- Wat Samphran
- Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
- Khao Yai National Park
- Erawan National Park
- Bang Krachao
- Samut Prakan
- Pattaya Elephant Sanctuary
Things to know about Bangkok
Where is Bangkok
Bangkok is Thailand’s chaotic and gorgeous capital, located in the country’s central region. Booking your trip to Asia, for sure Bangkok comes on top of the cheapest destinations to get a flight. Situated on the Chao Phraya River, Bangkok is home to over 8 million people. (When we say that, we always think about Adam in Hangover II during his speech about things to know about Bangkok).
Despite being so popular and overcrowded, Bangkok is a vibrant city and needs to be more attractive while exploring Southeast Asia. Bangkok might be a short layover and a few days of discovering hidden gems buried in the narrow streets of the infinite suburbs. Well, just that we are here, you must pin Wat Pho and Wat Arun on your map and spend some time roaming the incredible night markets.
Best time to visit Bangkok
The best time to visit Bangkok is from November to February, during the dry seasons. The weather is cooler and less humid, making it easy to explore the city. The temperature can hit 30°C to 35°C. However, in 2023 Bangkok hit the record and reached 42 degrees in April. The government advised people to stay indoors due to the hit wave, so if you’re traveling to Bangkok, make sure you check the weather condition and be prepared. This means bring a water bottle with you!!
If you wish to avoid crowds and can tolerate some humidity, the shoulder seasons are from March to May and September to October; however, avoid August and September because that is when the highest rainfall occurs.
Bangkok temperatures
Things to know about Chiang Mai
Where is Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai is located in the Northern region of Thailand. It’s the largest city in the north and today is one of the best digital nomads hubs in Thailand. Thanks to its history dating back over 700 years, incredible ancient temples, picturesque countryside and unique food, Chiang Mai is worth visiting.
Best time to visit Chiang Mai
It’s always a good time to visit Chiang Mai; we loved it so much that we are waiting to return. The best time to visit Chiang Mai is during the cool and dry seasons, from November to February. The weather is nice, the temperatures are not too hot, and you can do many incredible outdoor activities.
The rainy season runs from June to October, with higher humidity and heavy rains. Although we visited Chiang Mai in November, and we had a couple of rainy days, and we couldn’t get out of our apartment due to the heavy rainfall.
Avoid at all costs the burning seasons, which run from late February to April. This time the farmers burn their fields, and the air pollution and quality are horrible.
Chiang Mai temperatures
Best experiences in Bangkok
Best Experiences in Chiang Mai
Bangkok vs Chiang Mai: Accommodation
Depending on where you’re staying, you can find great deals in terms of accommodation. For example, Bangkok might be slightly expensive but still can offer great accommodation across town. From a budget to a luxury stay, you can find many good places in Bangkok.
The same is for Chiang Mai. We found 1 per night within the old town walls and a really good deal for £9 just a few minutes outside the walls. So if you plan to stay longer, you can get a great deal. We managed to get £9 per night as we stayed for 2 weeks.
Below you will find our recommendation of the best places to stay in Bangkok and Chiang Mai.
Where to stay in Bangkok
KHAO SAN ROAD/AFFORDABLE ACCOMMODATION
If it’s your first time in Bangkok, this is the right place for you. Located 5 minutes away from Khao San Road, this affordable accommodation offers all the comforts that you need while in Bangkok.
The best luxury stay in Bangkok with an amazing infinity pool and incredible view of the city!
Where to stay in Chiang Mai
OUTSIDE CITY WALLS
Canary House Rachawong is the perfect place if you’re looking to stay longer. Outside the busy Old Town, here you will find your quietness. The staff is super friendly, and you will feel like at home!
Stay in style in this 3-star hotel. With its swimming pool, comfy rooms and incredible view!
Thailand Visa
If you’re planning a trip to Thailand, check your visa requirement before arriving in the country. You can enter Thailand with a Visa on arrival (free) if you have a passport from the UK, EU or US as of 2023. A visa may be obtained upon arrival and allows you to stay up to 30 days.
If it’s your first time in Thailand, make sure you have an answer to the following questions:
“How long are you staying in Thailand?”
“Where are you going?”
“Do you have proof of outbound flight?”
We arrived in Thailand by flight and crossed the border by land, and we were asked only where we were going. The airline might ask you questions, so make sure you have the answer ready! We flew from London to Bangkok, and the airline asked us for an outbound flight. We provided evidence that we were crossing the Laos border from Chiang Rai and the lodging, and Singapore Airlines accepted it.
If you plan to stay longer in Thailand and need more than a 30 days visa, you can extend and pay an extra $30 for 30 days. You will need passport photos, so make sure you have them!